Separator



May 16, 1939.

G. E. RANDALL 2,158,863

SEPARATOR Filed Feb. 25, 1958 2a Invehtor:

Patented May 16, 1939 SEPARATOR Gordon E. Randall, Schenectady, Y.. assignor to General Electric Company, a corporation of New York Application February 25, 1938, Serial No. 192,657

5 Claims.

' 15 the following description and the claims appended thereto in connection with the accompanying drawing.

In the drawing, Fig. 1 illustrates an elastic fluid turbine arrangement embodying my invention; Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional view of a part of Fig. l; and Fig. 3 shows amodification of my invention.

The arrangement of Fig. 1 comprises a high pressure turbine II) with an inlet conduit II and an exhaust end l2, which latter is connected by a cross-over conduit l3 to a low pressure turbine M with an exhaust end l5. During operation, elastic fluid while flowing through the high pressure turbine l and giving up some of its available energy becomes moist. Liquid particles, such as water, contained in the steam are destructive when admitted to the low pressure turbine. Due to the high-inertia of these particles they cause considerable wear of the bucket wheel and diaphragm blades and in addition effect corrosion and erosion of the steel from which these blades are made. The liquid particles therefore areseparated from the elastic fluid on its flow through the cross-over conduit l3 by means of a 40 liquid vapor separating device Hi. This device, as shown in Fig. 2, comprises a body l1 which constitutes in substance a,conduit with flanged openings l8 and IQ for connection to the exhaust end l2 of the high pressure turbine and the inlet of. the low pressure turbine respectively. The lower portion of the body I! has another flanged opening 20 which is connected to a vessel 2| from which liquid may be drained through a drain conduit 22 including a valve 23. The di- 50 rection of flow of elastic fluid through the body I1 is from the left to the right, as indicated by arrows. The separation of liquid from vapor is effected by means including a deflecting wall 24 which in the present instance is in the form of a 55 substantially conical element having a point 25 directed towards the direction of flow of fluid. This cone, as shown in the drawing, is formed by I a curved line revolving about an axis to form a concave deflecting surface 26. The outer edge of the cone or deflecting element 20 is connected to an annular channel 21 which is-of substantially toroidal shape forming an annular opening 28. An edge 29 of the channel member is secured or sealed to the rear surface of the cone and the lower portion of the channel member is connected to a discharge conduit 30 projecting into the vessel 2|. The channel 21 and the cone 26 are supported by means of brackets 3| on the body lI.

During operation, liquid particles contained in the elastic fluid impinge on the deflecting surface 26' of the cone24 and flowing along this surface these particles are conducted into the channel 21, whence they are discharged through the conduit 30 into the vessel 2|. Liquid thus aco cumulating in the lower portion of the vessel 2| may be drained therefrom by opening the valve 23. The opening of the valve 23 may be eifected manually or, as shown in the present instance, automatically by means including a suitable mechanism 32 for opening the valve 23 as soon as the liquid in the vessel 2i reaches a predetermined level.

While the arrangement of Figs. 1 and 2 shows a liquid vapor separating device with a single defleeting surface, the arrangement of Fig. 3 shows a device with several such deflecting surfaces. These surfaces may be arranged in parallel or in series with regard to the flow of elastic fluid.

In the present instance the arrangement of Fig. 35 3 comprises a high pressure turbine 35 which has a last bucket wheel 36 disposed within a fabricated cross-over conduit 31 for conducting elastic fluid discharged from the high pressure turbine to a double-flow low pressure turbine (not shown). An arrangement of this kind is more fully disclosed in the Patent No. 2,102,416 issued December 14, 1937 to the administrator of O. Junggren and assigned to the same assignee as the present application. The separation of liquid from the vapor or elastic fluid is effected in the cross-over conduit 31 by means of two frusto-conical deflecting members 38 and 39 with concave deflecting surfaces corresponding to the surface 26 in Fig. 2. The outer edges or rims of these members project into and are secured to channel members 43 and 4! respectively. The latter are supported by brackets 42 and 43 respectively on the wall of the cross-over channel 31. The lower portions of the channel memhere 40, 4| are connected by drain conduits 44 and 45 respectively to a chamber 46 from which liquid may be drained.

During operation liquid particles contained in 6 the elastic fluid discharged from the bucket wheel 36 impinge on the deflecting surfaces of the members 38 and 39, whence the liquid is forced by inertia into the channel members 40 and 4| to be drained therefrom through the conduits 40, 45 into the chamber 46'. The inner edge of the deflecting member 39 in the present instance engages the outer wall of a bearing 41 for supporting the shaft or shafts of the high pressure and low pressure turbines. With my invention I have provided an improved construction and arrangement for liquid vapor separating devices; Such devices broadly include a member having a deflecting surface inclined towards the direction of flow of fluid and an outer edge or rim projecting into a channel, which latter has an edge secured to the rear side of the deflecting member.

Having described the method of operation of my invention, together with the apparatus which -85 I now consider to represent the best embodiment thereof, I desire to have it understood that the apparatus shown is only illustrative and that the invention may be carried out by other means. What I claim as new. and desire to secure by U Letters Patent of the United States is: 1. Liquid vapor separating device comprisin a conduit, a deflecting member having an outer edge and a surface inclined towards the direction of elastic fluid, and a channel member into 85 which the outer edge of the deflecting member projects, said channel member being sealed to the rear surface of the deflecting member.

2. Liquid vapor separating device comprising a conduit for conducting elastic fluid. a conical deflecting member pointing in a direction opposite to that of the flow of fluid through the conduit, an annular channel member into which the outer edge of the deflecting member projects, said channel member having an edge secured to the rear surface of the conical deflecting member, and means for draining liquid from the annular channel member. I

3. Liquid vapor separating device comprising a body having flanged inlet and outlet openings. a conical deflecting member with its axis horizontally disposed within the body and pointing in a direction opposite to that of the flow of fluid therethrough, an annular channel into which the outer edge of the deflecting member projects, said channel being sealed to the rear of the deflecting member, and means for drainingliquid from the channel.

4. Liquid vapor separating device comprising a body having flanged inlet and outlet openings, a frusto-conical deflecting member with its axis horizontally disposed within the body and pointing in a direction opposite to that of the flow of fluid therethrough, an annular channel into which the outer edge of the deflecting member freely projects to deflne with the channel an annular groove in the rear of the deflecting member, said channel being secured to the rear of the deflecting member, and means for draining liquid from the channel.

5. Liquid vapor separating device comprising a conduit, a plurality of rrusto-conical deflecting members having surfaces disposed in the conduit and pointing towards the direction of flow of fluid therethrough, separate annular channel members substantially surrounding the outer edges of the deflecting members, and a drain conduit for each channel member.

GORDON E. RANDALL. 

